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3.A. - Page 2 of 10 <br />goals, policies, and objectives into other elements) to comply with State law. Redwood City is beginning <br />its planning process now and this report provides an overview of that expected process and key <br />components. <br />ANALYSIS <br />There are several key components to successfully completing the update process. These include: <br />• Planning for New Housing - Planning appropriately for the City's Regional Housing Needs <br />Allocation (RHNA, pronounced REE-na) is a central part of the Housing Element process. To <br />accommodate these housing needs, the City must change the General Plan and/or rezone areas <br />of the City to allow more housing development and adopt goals and policies to address <br />community housing needs. <br />• Housing Goals—The Housing Element will include goals to address the housing needs of the <br />community and specific policies and programs for how the City plans to meet those goals. These <br />goals and policies include not only strategies for including new housing, but preserving and <br />improving existing housing and other services to meet the community's housing needs. <br />• Safety and Environmental Justice Elements — Per state law, the City is also required to update its <br />policies regarding environmental and man-made hazards (Safety Element) and increase the <br />quality of life for disadvantaged communities (Environmental Justice — either a separate element <br />or related policies integrated into other elements). <br />• Community Engagement — For a successful outcome, Redwood City will involve all members of <br />the community. Special emphasis will be given to traditionally underrepresented groups and <br />neighborhoods. <br />• Equity - The Council has identified equity as being a foundational Guiding Principle, stating that <br />"Redwood City will put equity first, urging a collective restart so that policies serve the entire <br />community." The Housing Element will use an equity lens throughout the process, not just for <br />community engagement but also in evaluating the benefits and burdens of various policy options. <br />Planning for New Housing —Every eight years, all cities in California receive a target for new housing <br />construction called a RHNA. Regional allocations are decided by the State, with the regional governing <br />body (Association of Bay Area Governments for the Bay Area) assigning jurisdiction -specific goals based <br />on jobs, transportation, and the presence of high opportunity areas. High opportunity areas are generally <br />residential neighborhoods with high property values and access to good schools, parks, and jobs in the <br />region. The RHNA targets affordability levels ranging from very low income to above moderate income <br />homes. <br />In 2014, Redwood City was given an eight-year goal of 2,789 new homes in Redwood City, with over 50 <br />percent of the homes targeted towards moderate, low, or very low income households (Column A in <br />Figure 1 below). In the current cycle (2014-2022), the City has been very successful in meeting housing <br />needs with permits issued for almost 3,000 new homes, the highest number of units of any jurisdiction in <br />the County. When currently entitled homes (Column C) also receive permits, the City will have permitted <br />854 new residences affordable to very, low, and moderate income households. For reference, a typical <br />Page 2 of 10 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />FA <br />